Prism alignment means for a character at a time printer

ABSTRACT

To enable aligned printed web-carried symbols, which are out of the line of sight, to be seen from a regular position adjacent the keyboard of said printer, a prism bends source light to illuminate the symbols. Another prism, which is mounted in a cover of the printer housing, bends the source light reflected from the web into the line of sight. A bank of aligned lamps is supported in a position aligned with the printing stations on the web, and each thereof is adapted to be illuminated in succession by means which is responsive to completion of the formation of a symbol. A double image of each lamp can be seen through one of the prisms. Parallax of the lamp is prevented by aligning a selected double image with a pair of station designating marks on a pair of parallel scales carried adjacent the web and on said first named prism.

Alonas et a1.

1March 13, 1973 1 PRISM ALIGNMENT MEANS FOR A CHARACTER AT A TIMEPRINTER [75] Inventors: Kay Alonas, Skokie; Valentine R. Engelman,Niles; Norman A. Jacobs, Arlington Heights, all of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Teletype Corporation, Skokie, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 89,788

[52] US. Cl. ..l97/l82, 197/186 B [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lj 29/18 [58] Fieldof Search ..l97/l, 19, 84 A, 180, 182,

197/186 R, 186 13,187, 188,189, 190, 191, l94;33/l83;353/81 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,582 7/1932 Smith ..l97/1823,137,381 6/1964 Behr et a1. ..l97/l82X 2,632,548 3/1953 Ackerman..197/1 87 X 2,443,722 6/1948 Carlson ..353/8l 3,432,844 3/1969Winston..... ..l97/l R UX 1,600,808 9/1926 Dukehart.... .....l97/l82 XPrimary ExaminerErnest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney-J. L. Landis and R. P.Miller [57] ABSTRACT To enable aligned printed web-carried symbols,which are out of the line of sight, to be seen from a regular positionadjacent the keyboard of said printer, a prism bends source light toilluminate the symbols. Another prism, which is mounted in a cover ofthe printer housing, bends the source light reflected from the web intothe line of sight. A bank of aligned lamps is supported in a positionaligned with the printing stations on the web, and each thereof isadapted to be illuminated in succession by means which is responsive tocompletion of the formation of a symbol. A double image of each lamp canbe seen through one of the prisms. Parallax of the lamp is prevented byaligning a selected double image with a pair of station designatingmarks on a pair of parallel scales carried adjacent the web and on saidfirst named prism.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAR 1 31975 3,7 0,29

SHEET 10F 4 VEN RS KAY ALONAS VALENTlNE R. ENGE AN NORMAN A. JAC WW KMATTORNEY PATENTEDHARI 31973 SHEET 2 OF 4 FIG.

PATEIHEDHARmms 3,720,29 SHEET-3 0r 4 Q FIG. 5

BINARY COUNTER 82 A 82 8 82C 82 D 82 E 82F 826 m W W W W W W r 82EN 82FN826M 82BN 820M BZDN PRISM ALIGNMENT MEANS FOR A CHARACTER AT A TIMEPRINTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Furthermore, other means areprovided for preventing parallax of the light of any selected lightablecomponent.

Considered from another aspect, the foregoing ob- The present inventionrelates to character at a time 5 j C ar eff ted in an operatormanageable printer or character by character printing. Particularly, theinvention relates to non-impact printing. Specifically, the inventionrelates to keyboard controlled electrostatic printers.

In a conventional impact printer which is adapted for operator controlthrough the agency of a keyboard, characters or intelligence symbols areformed on a web or carrier in succession to generate a record. Withoutreference to any recorded character or symbol, any station on the web atwhich printing is about to occur is readily determinable by reference toa mechanical member, usually, a print hammer, or a mechanical componentwhich is connected to the print hammer or its carriage.

In non-impact printing, particularly in electrostatic printing of thetype with which the present invention is concerned, no mechanicalimpactor is involved. A character at a time is printed by selectivelydeflecting successive streams of ink electrostatically for tracingpatterns on a web towards which the ink is transferred across a spanfrom successive ink supplying nozzles. It cannot be determined byreference to any usual mechanical member the station at which printingis about to occur. Therefore, to enable ready determination, separateprovision is required.

A light cursitor of the type used in many cathode ray display devices isconsidered an undesirably costly expedient. Moreover, present evaluationconsiders mechanical indicating means esthetically detracting. Both thecost and esthetic considerations, have resulted in a current design inan electrostatic printer which hides the line on a web along whichprinting is about to occur from the normal line of sight of an operatorat a regular position adjacent the printer keyboard. As a result,location of a station at which printing is about to occur in such aprinter has been further complicated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved deviceof the referenced type which solves the foregoing problems.

It is another object of the invention to enable an operator to determinea station at which printing is about to occur in a printer of the typewith which the present invention is concerned.

It is a further object of the invention to enable printing to be seen insuch a printer from a regular operators position adjacent the printerkeyboard, as it occurs, though the printing is out of the regular lineof sight of an operator.

It is an additional object of the invention to minimize the cost inapparatus for effecting the foregoing objects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the foregoing, and other objects ofthe invention which will become apparent from the ensuing description, aprinter, adapted for printing a character at a time on a web atsuccessive stations which are aligned with each other and with indiciaof a scale, has a bank of lightable components which are arranged inalignment with the indicia. Means are provided for successivelyilluminating said lightable components.

which has a keyboard. To that end means are provided for supporting aweb in a recording attitude. Means are responsive to the keyboard forrecording symbols on the web along aligned stations hidden from the lineof sight of an operator at a regular position adjacent the keyboard. Alid is mounted for selectively covering the web. A prism mounted in thelid, when in web covering condition bends light reflected from saidstations into said line of sight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the ensuing detailed description ofthe invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view according to line 22 of DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF THE INVENTION Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, shown is anoperator manageable printer 10 of a non-impact type which comprises arectangular housing 12 having a well or cavity 14 with an upper opening16. A framework 18 of the printer 10 includes a frame section 20. It isadapted for rotationally supporting opposite ends of a shaft 22 forcarrying a roll 24 from which a web 26 uncoils into a course through theframework 18, the course partially extending through opening 16. A bar28, which is rockably connected to the framework 18, guides the web 26from its roll 24 downwardly through well 14, the framework 18 havingparts (not shown) for guiding the web 26 upwardly about a stationaryplaten 30 (FIG. 2) which together with the framework 18 comprises meansfor supporting the web 26 in an intelligence recording attitude.

Downstream of platen 30, the web path extends past a backing member orplate 32 which is supported by framework 18. It has a medial aperture 34through which there is exposed a wheel 36 adapted to frictionally engageand drive web 26 in the direction of arrows 38 (FIG. 1) and 40 (FIG. 2).To that end, wheel 36 is secured to a shaft 42, an end extension 44(FIG. 1) of which is drivingly connected to a stepping motor (not shown)for advancing the web 26 a line at a time by means which may beconventional and only a pulley 46 and pulley belt 48 of which are shown.A pressure bracket 50 which is pivotally connected to frame section 20has a rod 52 extending transversely of the web path and carries a pairof small cylindrical bearings or bosses 54 adapted for engaging the web26, a spring load (not shown) on the bracket 50 urging the web 26 intofrictional and driving engagement with drive wheel 36.

A keyboard 56, which may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,171,890, issued to L. C. Anderson, et al., Mar. 3, 1965, is supportedfrom the front portion of housing 12 and adjacent opening 16. From aregular position adjacent the keyboard 56, anoperator can control theintelligence which will be applied to web 26 through selection ofappropriate keys 58 such that a succession of characters or symbols willbe generated transversely of the web 26 along an imaginary line 60 (FIG.2) on the web 26.

In exemplary printer 10, the parts are proportioned and designed suchthat line 60 is out of the normal line of sight 61 of an operatorregularly arranged for operating keyboard 56. Means responsive to thekeyboard 56 for recording indicia or successive characters or symbols ofintelligence on web 26 at aligned successive stations on line 60comprises a bank of nozzles 62 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2),the nozzles 62 being aligned transversely of the direction of webmovement. The nozzles 62 are adapted for successive operation to formany selected symbol or character and they are spaced from web 26 acrossa gap 64. They are supported in a casing 68 through a slot 66 of whichthey are adapted to supply ink. To the latter purpose, an ink reservoir(not shown) is housed in said casing and is fluidally connected to saidnozzles 62 for supplying ink thereto.

Printing is produced on web 26 by a non-impact process of the typegenerally shown in US. Pat. No. 3,432,844, issued to C. R. Winston Mar.11, 1969. In said process, each key 58 may be adapted for causingproduction of a distinctive digitally encoded output 70 (FIG. Uponenergization by said output 70, tracing drive or character generationmeans 72 produces associated analog outputs through leads 74, 76, and78, and simultaneously a character interval signal through lead 80whereby: (1) a valving electrode 75 (FIG. 2) is energized for apredetermined period of time for causing ink to flow in a stream from anassociated nozzle 62 toward web 26 for impingement thereon; (2) avoltage is imposed across a pair of horizontal electrodes 77 fordeflecting the ink stream horizontally in gap 64; (3) a voltage isimposed across a pair of vertical electrodes 79 for deflecting thestream vertically in gap 64; and (4) at the completion of saidpredetermined period, the end of the character interval signal, as aninput, energizes a binary counter 82 for counting in a known manner.

Casing 68 is arranged at the forward end portion of well 14, and it hasan upper horizontal surface 84 (FIG. 2) which is disposed below opening16 but above the level of line 60. A surface 86 of casing 68 slopes outof line of sight 61 rearwardly and downwardly from the back end ofsurface 84 at an angle of about 36 to the upper limit of slot 66, saidupper limit being at a level slightly above line 60.

A circuit board 88 is supported from casing 68 in a horizontal planespaced slightly above surface 84. It supports portions of the circuitry(FIG. 5) associated with a bank or an array of horizontally alignedlightable components such as lamps 90. Each of the latter is alignedwith a printing station on web 26 though spaced forwardly and upwardlytherefrom; and is visible to an operator regularly positioned at thekeyboard through opening 16 along his regular line of sight 61. Theexemplary lamps 90 are glow discharge tubes which project upwardly fromthe circuit board 88. However, other members, such as filament typebulbs or light emitting diodes, are considered equivalents thereto.

A prism 92 is supported above circuit board 88. Its width issubstantially the same as the width of web 26 whereby illumination ofentire line may be effected. The prism 92 has a pocket, cutout, or well94 into which lamps project, and an upper flat surface 96 parallel tothe circuit board 38, through which said lamps 90 are visible fromabove. A downwardly extending surface 97 of the prism 92 covers the rearaspect of the lamps 90.

Light source means herein shown as a fluorescent tube 98 is supported ina pair of opposed mounts 100 (FIG. 1) which are carried from framework18. The arrangement is such that the longitudinal axis of tube 98 isparallel to line 60, and said tube 98 is disposed adjacent the forwardface 102 of prism 92. The parts are fashioned and arranged such thatlight rays from tube 98 which pass through face 102 are reflecteddownwardly from surface 96 and pass through prism surface 97 along aline 103 (FIG. 2) for illuminating intelligence along line 60.

A lid 104 is rockably connected to the rear wall 106 of housing 12 by ahinge 108. The lid 104 is proportioned as a closure for upper opening 16and is adapted to cover web 26 from above. The normally upper surface110 of the lid 104 has a window opening in which a prism 112 isreleaseably mounted by a plurality of snap fasteners 114. In a first oran open condition (FIG. 1) of the lid 104, the upper opening 16, framesection 20, web 26, nozzle 62, and light tube 98 are uncovered. In itssecond or closed condition (FIG. 2) the aforesaid elements are covered.

When lid 104 is closed, prism 112 intersects line of sight 61. Said lastprism 112 is constructed and fashioned such that it bends lightregularly reflected along line 115 from line 60 into the line of sight61. Thereby, intelligence on line 60 and hidden from view to an operatorwhen the lid 104 is in its first condition will be seen by such operatorwhen the lid 104 is in its second condition.

To enable determination of the station at which printing is about tooccur, in accordance with the invention, scale means comprising a scale116 (FIGS. 3 and 4) may be painted on surface 86 of casing 68. The scale116 extends transversely of the alignment of lamps 90, and in a front torear direction it extends to slot 66. The scale 1 16 has a plurality ofmarks or indicia 118 which are parallel to each other, their spacingbeing longitudinal of said scale 116. Each of the marks 1 18 is astraight line which is aligned with a printing station along line 60 andhas a proximate end 120 and a distal end 122. For orientation each 10thmark 118 is designated by an arabic numeral in a range from 10 to 80 andis referrable to a corresponding printing station.

Scale means comprising another scale 124 extends longitudinally of theweb proximate end portion of prism surface 96. Scale 124 may befashioned by etching parallel marks or indicia 126 in prism 92. Each ofsaid marks 126 is a line and has a web proximate end 128 and a webdistal end 129. Moreover, the last named marks 126 extend to the webproximate edge of prism surface 96, and each is aligned with a mark 118in a direction which is normal to the transverse dimension of web 26.Accordingly, each is also aligned with a printing station on the web 26and it is disposed in vertical alignment with a lamp 90. As on scale116, each th mark 126 has been designated by an arabic numeral in therange of 10 to 80.

In the exemplary embodiment, binary counter 82 has seven flip-flops orstages 82A 82G which are arranged in known fashion capable of 128different output combinations (only 80 of which are used in printer 10).Each stage 82A-82G has a normal output N and a complementary or invertedoutput I.

The outputs of stages 82A, 82B, 82C, and 82D are decodingly connected ina known manner to an array of 16 AND gates collectively designated 130.Particularly, the gates 130 are designated in succession 130a 130p andare arranged such that in response to 16 suceessive character endsignals through lead 80, 16 successive outputs will be produced throughgate conductors collectively identified 132 and particularly designated132a 132p. Extensions 133 of the latter conductors 132 define aplurality of elongated parallel conducting elements in a grid or matrix134.

A plurality of parallel conductors 137 which are extensions of fiveoutput leads generally designated 136, and particularly identified as136A 136E, complete matrix 134. Said parallel conductors 137 extendnormally to the extensions 133 which they intersect at 80 positions(corresponding to the printing stations along line 60) from which lamps90 are energized. Leads 136 extend as output members from an array offive NAND gates collectively identified 138 and individually identified138A 138E. The NAND gates 138 are connected to the outputs of counterstages 82E, 82F, and 826 such that: (1) lead 136A is energized only forthe first 16 binary counter steps in a sequence to cause lamps 90Aa 90Apconnected thereto to light in succession, (2) lead 1363 is energizedonly during the next 16 counter steps in succession to cause the 17ththrough the 32nd lamps 90Ba 908p to light in succession, and (3) lead136E is energized during the last 16 counter steps of an 80 countsuccession, whereby, lamps 90Ea 9013p are energized successively.

Parallax of lamps 90 can be avoided in the instant apparatus by severaltechniques, as follows: (A) Visually align a selected lamp 90 withopposite ends 128 and 129 of a superposed corresponding mark 126 inscale 124. (B) Visually align a selected lamp 90 with its correspondingmark 126 and with an associated mark 118 on scale 116. The secondtechnique is more accurate than the first. Reliability is enhancedfurther with the third technique in accordance with the presentinvention, by (C) Constructing prism 112 such that when a selectedlighted component 90 is viewed through said last prism 112 by anoperator arranged at his regular position, he will see a pair of imagesidentified as X and Y (FIG. 4) along line of sight 61. That is to say,prism 112 in effect comprises a pair of discrete optical wedges 112a and1121) (FIG. 6) with a common upper surface 140. Wedge 1120 includesstraight prism surface 142; and wedge 1121) includes an arcuate surface144 which is angularly offset from surface 142. ln consequence aselected ray of light from any point 146 from any of lamps will follow apath 148, and another ray of light from such last point 146 will followa path 150. Accordingly, the image of each lamp 90 as seen through prism112 will be split or doubled into a pair of images X and Y. Image X willappear through scale 124, whereas, image Y will appear superposed and tothe rear thereof. When the double image appears aligned with aligned orcorresponding marks 118 and 126, parallax of the light component 90 isnon-extent; and the last mentioned aligned marks 118 and 126 indicate astation on web 26, the relative position of which may be determined byreference to the arabic numerals carried on the scales 1 16 and 124.

As many modifications in the described construction could be conceived,and as many changes could be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter containedin the accompanying specification shall be considered as illustrativeonly and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In an operator manageable printer having a framework, a combinationwhich comprises:

a keyboard supported from said framework; means for supporting a web inrecording attitude; means responsive to said keyboard for successivelyrecording symbols transversely of said web along aligned stations hiddento a line of sight of an operator at a regular position adjacent saidkeyboard;

a lid mounted for selectively covering said web;

a first prism mounted in said lid and when in web covering conditionbending reflected light from said aligned stations into said line ofsight;

a source for light supported from said framework;

a second prism supported adjacent said source for illuminating saidstations with light from said source; bank of lightable componentsdisposed beneath said second prism and visible therethrough by anoperator at said regular position, each lightable component supported inalignment with one of said stations;

means for illuminating said lightable components in succession incorrespondence with the printing succession;

a first scale carried on said second prism above said bank of lightablecomponents;

a second scale supported parallel to said first scale adjacent said web;and

indicia comprising a plurality of marks on each scale, the marks on eachscale being parallel with each other and aligned with the marks on theother scale.

2. A printer according to claim 1 wherein the construction of the firstprism is such that an aligned double image of a lightable component isvisible therethrough and in alignment with a corresponding station.

I t t

1. In an operator manageable printer having a framework, a combinationwhich comprises: a keyboard supported from said framework; means forsupporting a web in recording attitude; means responsive to saidkeyboard for successively recording symbols transversely of said webalong aligned stations hidden to a line of sight of an operator at aregular position adjacent said keyboard; a lid mounted for selectivelycovering said web; a first prism mounted in said lid and when in webcovering condition bending reflected light from said aligned statiOnsinto said line of sight; a source for light supported from saidframework; a second prism supported adjacent said source forilluminating said stations with light from said source; a bank oflightable components disposed beneath said second prism and visibletherethrough by an operator at said regular position, each lightablecomponent supported in alignment with one of said stations; means forilluminating said lightable components in succession in correspondencewith the printing succession; a first scale carried on said second prismabove said bank of lightable components; a second scale supportedparallel to said first scale adjacent said web; and indicia comprising aplurality of marks on each scale, the marks on each scale being parallelwith each other and aligned with the marks on the other scale.
 1. In anoperator manageable printer having a framework, a combination whichcomprises: a keyboard supported from said framework; means forsupporting a web in recording attitude; means responsive to saidkeyboard for successively recording symbols transversely of said webalong aligned stations hidden to a line of sight of an operator at aregular position adjacent said keyboard; a lid mounted for selectivelycovering said web; a first prism mounted in said lid and when in webcovering condition bending reflected light from said aligned statiOnsinto said line of sight; a source for light supported from saidframework; a second prism supported adjacent said source forilluminating said stations with light from said source; a bank oflightable components disposed beneath said second prism and visibletherethrough by an operator at said regular position, each lightablecomponent supported in alignment with one of said stations; means forilluminating said lightable components in succession in correspondencewith the printing succession; a first scale carried on said second prismabove said bank of lightable components; a second scale supportedparallel to said first scale adjacent said web; and indicia comprising aplurality of marks on each scale, the marks on each scale being parallelwith each other and aligned with the marks on the other scale.